Method and apparatus for joining pipe

ABSTRACT

A method of joining segments of non-metallic pipe and an apparatus that may be used to form the joint. The pipes may be joined using by melting the ends to form a butt joint, then the joint may be wrapped with one or more sheets of reinforcement material (e.g., pre-impregnated fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aramid fiber). The reinforcement material may be heated using a heating apparatus which allows the material to bond to the pipes to strengthen the joint.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/312,257, filed Feb. 21, 2022, titled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JOINING PIPE.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to methods and devices for joining pipe. More specifically, the invention comprises methods and apparatuses for joining segments of non-metallic pipe.

BACKGROUND

Various technologies exist for joining pipe. However, when it comes to joining non-metallic pipe, options are somewhat limited. A common method for joining plastic pipe involves heating the ends of the pipes to their melting points and then fusing the ends together. This technique is often referred to as “butt fusing” pipe. Butt fusion is a preferred way to join plastic pipes because it tends to be less expensive than buying mechanical joints and is relatively simple to do in the field. However, when dealing with certain non-metallic pipes, such as composite plastic pipes, attempts to butt fuse are generally not successful. Composite pipes have layered material that interferes with fusion of the heated ends. Also, non-bonded composite pipes cannot be butt fused because there is a void or annulus formed by the unbonded fiber layer. Often times, mechanical compression fittings, such as swage fittings, are the only way to successfully join composite pipe. However, swage fittings can be expensive and create internal stresses in the pipe, which can cause premature failures. What is needed in the industry is a method of joining pipe that is cost-effective, reliable, and not prone to failure. The present invention addresses that need.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to methods of joining segments of non-metallic pipe such as composite pipe. The methods may use one or more sheets of reinforcement material (e.g., pre-impregnated fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aramid fiber) bonded to a joint or an end of a pipe. The invention also comprises an apparatus that can heat the reinforcement material to facilitate bonding. One reason for adding reinforcement material to a pipe joint, such as a butt joint, is to help strengthen the joint. In some situations, butt fusing two pipes together can cause a weakness at the fused seam, particularly in the case of composite piping. This weakness may lower the working pressure of the pipe system, and if the weakness is not recognized it can result in failure of a the pipe system. Wrapping the joint with reinforcement material using the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein helps to strengthen a joint.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a pipe joint having a seam between two joined pipes where the seam includes melted material from the two pipes, and the seam is covered by at least one layer (and possibly several layers) of reinforcement material wrapped around the pipes. One or both the pipes may be a composite pipe. The seam may be trimmed so that it is generally flush with the exterior walls of the pipes. The reinforcement material may include heat activated resin and the material may be heated after wrapping it around the pipes. There may also be one or more grooves or other indentations formed in one or both of the pipes. A temperature probe may be located underneath the reinforcement material wrap. There may be a protective film on top of the reinforcement material to protect against wear and tear.

Another embodiment of the invention may include a method of joining pipes that includes the following actions: heating the ends of two pipes and pressing them together to fuse the ends, wrapping the fused ends with a reinforcement material, placing the wrapped fused ends in a pipe heating apparatus, heating the wrapped fused ends in the pipe heating apparatus such that the reinforcement material bonds to the pipes, and allowing the wrapped fused ends to cool. One or both the pipes may be a composite pipe. The reinforcement material may include a heat activated resin. One or more grooves or other indentations may be formed in one or both of the pipes prior to wrapping the fused ends with the reinforcement material. A protective film may be applied on top of the reinforcement material to protect against wear and tear.

The invention may include an apparatus for heating pipes. The apparatus may have a cylindrical shell with several segments, a heater that can be positioned within the shell, and a controller adapted to control heat produced by the heater. The heater may be flexible and able to wrap at least partially around a pipe. Segments of the shell may be attached to other segments using a hinge. There may be a temperature probe attached to the pipe being heated, and the controller may also monitor the temperature probe. The controller may be electrically connected to the heater by at least one wire, and it may be electrically connected to the temperature probe by at least one wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of joined piping in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective end view of the joined piping of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus used to create the pipe shown in FIG. 1 , with the apparatus in an open configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 with a heater installed.

FIG. 5 is 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus and heater of FIG. 4 , with the apparatus in a closed configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a control unit for the heater of FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of a seam for fused piping.

FIG. 8 shows a tool removing a portion of the seam of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 shows a tool roughening an area around a pipe joint.

FIG. 10 shows a tool creating grooves in an area around a pipe joint.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of grooves in an area around a pipe joint.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a temperature probe secured to the pipe joint of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of reinforcement material being wrapped around a pipe joint.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of heat resistant material being wrapped around the reinforcement material that is wrapped around a pipe joint.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pipe joint wrapped with reinforcement material and heat resistant material placed in the apparatus and heater of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 17 is a perspective view a pipe joint wrapped with reinforcement material and heat resistant material and a temperature probe attached, with the wrapped pipe joint and probe located in the apparatus of FIG. 16 in a closed configuration.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a heat resistant material being removed from the heated pipe joint of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of protective shrink film being applied to a pipe joint.

FIG. 20 is a cross section view of the joined piping of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an adapter fitting at the end of a reinforced pipe in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a top perspective view showing the adapter fitting and reinforced pipe of FIG. 21 connected to a metallic pipe.

FIG. 23 is a top perspective view showing an adapter fitting at the end of a reinforced pipe.

FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic representation of a process of joining pipe in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic representation of a process of adding an adapter fitting to an end of reinforced pipe in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” “leftwardly,” “upper,” and “lower” will refer to the installed position of the item to which the reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import.

Referring to the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a method 10 of joining segments of non-metallic pipe, such as a composite pipe 15, as well as a method 20 of joining a segment of non-metallic pipe, such as composite pipe 15, to a metallic pipe 25. Methods 10 and 20 may employ sheets of reinforcement material 30 such as pre-impregnated fiberglass fibers wrapped around an end of a pipe segment or joint. The reinforcement material 30 may be bonded to increase the strength of the wrapped area. Both methods may utilize a bonding apparatus 40 (also referred to herein as a heating apparatus) to facilitate application of the reinforcement material 30, with bonding apparatus 40 being another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in the figures, method 10 for joining pipe results in two ends of a non-metallic pipe, such as a composite pipe 15, being joined together. The term “composite pipe” as used herein includes any non-metallic pipes having more than one type of material in the walls of the pipe including layers of materials. Materials that may be used in a composite pipe include fiber-reinforced plastic, glass reinforced plastic, high-density polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene. Composite pipes include those pipes that are classified as bonded or non-bonded. In an exemplary embodiment, composite pipe 15 takes the form of a polyethylene pipe having one or more layers of fiber reinforcing material in the wall of the pipe 15. As shown in FIG. 2 , composite pipe 15 may have an internal polyethylene layer 50 bonded with one or more intermediate layers of reinforcing fiber material 54 and then another outer polyethylene layer 58 bonded on top of the fiber material 54.

When used with composite pipe 15, method 10 for joining pipe includes a step 202 of welding two ends of composite piping 15 using what is sometimes referred to as a butt fusion technique. To butt fuse pipes 15, the ends being joined are separately heated until the material at the ends are somewhat pliable and/or slightly melted. The heated ends are then pressed together and held while they cool. There are a number of machines known in the art that can be used to butt fuse plastic pipes by melting the pipe ends against a central heating element and then compressing the melted ends together. The result is that the heated ends are welded together as the pliable plastic from one end fuses with the pliable plastic from the other end. The fused ends create a joint or seam that often has a bead or ridge of excess melted material inside and outside the piping. While the process of butt fusing composite pipes is novel, the same type of machine used with plastic pipes can be used for the initial step of method 10, where the composite pipes 15 are fused together.

As shown in FIG. 7 , an outer ridge 59 is often created when composite pipes 15 are butt fused because the melted outer portions of the walls of the pipes tends to be driven outward when the heated ends are pressed together during the fusing process. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 20 , an inner ridge 61 is often created when pipes 15 are butt fused because the melted inner portions of the walls of the pipes tend to be driven inward when the heated ends are pressed together during the fusing process. As shown in FIG. 8 , the outer ridge 59 may be removed prior to moving to the next step in method 10 using a blade or saw such as ridge removal tool 63. Once the ridge 59 is removed, the seam 62 where the segments of pipes 15 are fused together is easy to see.

One issue with butt fusing composite pipe is that the intermediate layer(s) of fiber material 54 does not bond as well as the plastic layers. This can make the fused joint weak and prone to failure unlike pure plastic (i.e., non-composite) piping. Accordingly, the joint can be reinforced by wrapping it with material. Before wrapping the joint, the outer surfaces of pipes 15 may be prepared so that the reinforcement material adheres to the pipes better. To prepare the pipes 15, the area around seam 62 may be roughened as shown in FIG. 9 . The area may be roughened using any number of techniques including sandpaper or a sander 64. The pipes 15 may be roughened on both sides of the seam 62 (i.e., ends of both of the fused pipes 15) in the area where the joint will be wrapped. Roughening the pipes helps the reinforcement wrapping adhere to the pipes. As shown in FIG. 10 , another preparation that may be done is forming circumferential grooves 65 around the outer walls of the pipes 15 proximate seam 62. The grooves 65 may encircle each pipe with a generally equal number of grooves 65 being formed on each side of the seam 62 (i.e., a generally equal number of grooves on the ends of both of the fused pipes 15). The number and size of grooves 65 will vary based on the pipe size and application. In an exemplary embodiment, three or four grooves 65 on each side of seam 62 would be sufficient. As best seen in FIG. 20 , grooves 65 are typically only applied to the outer layer 58 of composite pipe 15, and the depth of grooves 65 are usually not deep enough to contact the intermediate layer of fiber material 54 of the pipe. A typical depth for a groove 65 is twenty five percent of the thickness of outer layer 58, although other depths may be necessary.

Each groove 65 may be formed using a groove tool 67. As shown in FIG. 12 , groove tool 67 may include a long guide member 73 that extends downwardly from a cross member. The cross member may have an outer portion 72 and an inner portion 71, with a blade 74 extending downwardly from the inner portion 71. To use groove tool 67, the tool is placed such that the blade 74 and guide member 73 are in contact with pipe 15. The blade 74 can be forced into the outer layer 58 the desired depth and the tool can be rotated around the pipe 15 to create the groove around the circumference of the pipe. In addition to, or instead of, forming grooves 65, it is foreseen that other types of indentations or textures could be formed in pipes 15 including holes, striations, ridges, knurling, or other known indentations or textures.

As shown in FIG. 13 , a temperature probe 69 may be taped proximate the prepared area of the fused pipes 15 (e.g., the roughened and grooved area) such the probe will be located under the material that will be wrapped around the joint as reinforcement.

Method 10 includes the step 205 of wrapping one or more sheets of reinforcement material 30 around the butt fused joint. This may be done after the joint has been prepared roughening and forming grooves 65. The reinforcement material 30 may take the form of various materials, however pre-impregnated fiberglass fibers are believed to be a suitable material for many applications. For example, sheets of biaxial fiberglass having fibers oriented perpendicularly to one another (e.g., at zero and ninety degrees) may be used. Such sheets are sometimes referred to as 0/90 sheets. Various other types of reinforcement material may be used including any type of material that can adhere to the pipe area around the butt fused joint using resin, adhesion, chemical welding, or other types of bonding techniques. It is foreseen that bonding may be facilitated or activated by heat, water, or other activators. In an exemplary embodiment, fibers with heat activated resin may be used reinforcement material. Reinforcement material 30 may be wrapped snugly around the circumference of the joint. In other words, wrapping would occur around the longitudinal axes of pipes 15. The material may overlay temperature probe 69. The number of layers of reinforcement material 30 will depend on the application, however, in general, the strength of the joint will increase as the number of layers increase. In an exemplary embodiment, the number of layers of reinforcement material 30 will exceed the number of intermediate layers of fiber material 54 in the pipes 15. For example, if each pipe 15 includes six intermediate layers of reinforcing fiber material 54, there could be eight layers of reinforcement material 30 wrapped around the butt fused joint.

Reinforcement material 30 is wrapped snugly around the joint. To facilitate this, a continuous sheet of reinforcement material 30 may be wrapped around the joint after an end of the material has been bonded to pipes 15. If the reinforcement material 30 is pre-impregnated fiberglass, one way to bond the starting end of the material to pipes 15 is to use a heat gun 68 to heat the end of the material 30. The heat gun 68 can heat the pre-impregnated resin in the material 30 until it begins to melt and then the heated end of the reinforcement material 30 can then be pressed to the pipes 15 and allowed to cool. Once cooled, the previously heated resin in the reinforcement material 30 should be bonded to the exterior of the pipes 15. At that point, the reinforcement material 30 can be wrapped around the joint to create the desired number of layers.

Next, method 10 includes the step 208 of placing the wrapped portion of the butt fused pipes 15 in a bonding apparatus 40 (also referred to herein as a heating apparatus). Bonding apparatus 40 can be used to heat the wrapped reinforcement material 30 such that the layers of material 30 are bonded together, and the layers become bonded to the exterior of pipes 15. More specifically, the pre-impregnated resin in the wrapped reinforcement material 30 is heated until it begins to melt and the resin in the contiguous layers of material 30 melt together thus bonding the layers together. The melted resin also bonds with the exterior of pipes 15. When grooves 65 or other indentations are made in pipes 15, the melted resin may flow into the grooves 65 which also helps the reinforcement material 30 bond to the exterior of the pipes 15. As the heated resin cools, the bond becomes stronger. When the resin cools and starts to solidify in grooves 65, the cooled resin in the grooves forms a keyed joint which helps resist movement of the resin and the reinforcement material 30 with respect to pipe 15, particularly with respect to movement that is perpendicular to the groove (e.g., movement that would be longitudinal along the pipe). It is foreseen that a coating may be placed on the outside of pipes 15 under the wrapped reinforcement material 30 to assist with bonding of the material 30 to the pipes 15. It is also foreseen that reinforcement material 30 could be bonded using techniques other than heating, such as adhesive, epoxy, or chemical weld.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 through 5 , bonding apparatus 40 may have a generally cylindrical shell 70 with multiple segments. A first segment 70 a and a second segment 70 b of the shell may be connected to a middle segment 70 c by hinges 75. As best seen in FIG. 5 , in a closed position, the first and second segments 70 a and 70 b may be fastened together with a clamping mechanism 78. As best seen in FIG. 3 , in an open position, the first and second segments 70 a and 70 b may be on opposite sides of middle segment 70 c with the interiors of all segments facing upward.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 16 , a heater 80 may be placed inside shell. Various types of heaters may be used, however in an exemplary embodiment, heater 80 takes the form of a flexible mat. Heater 80 may be separate from shell 70 or it may be attached to one or more of the shell segments. Heater 80 is sized and shaped to generally wrap around the wrapped pipes 15 such that when the wrapped pipes 15 are placed in the bonding apparatus 40 and the shell 70 is closed, the heater 80 is in contact with a majority of the exposed reinforcement material 30. Heater 80 may have elastic properties so that it can be slightly compressed against the wrapped pipes 15 when shell 70 is closed. In other words, the shell 70 may press against heater 80 when the shell is closed such that the heater 80 compresses against the wrapped pipes 15 in the bonding apparatus 40. This helps to ensure that heater 80 is making sufficient contact with the wrapped pipes 15 to uniformly heat the pipes. It is foreseen that one or more heaters 80 may be used at the same time with a single bonding apparatus 40, such as situations where the heaters 80 are individually too small to wrap completely around the wrapped pipes 15. Bonding apparatus 40 may also include one or more handles 83 for easy transport.

As shown in FIG. 6 , heater 80 may be powered and monitored by a control unit 85. Control unit 85 comprises a power supply and a controller that can measure and regulate the temperature of heaters 80. Various heater wattages can be used. In an exemplary embodiment, heater 80 may be 1500 watts. Control unit 85 may be battery powered or connected to a power generator, permanent power supply, or other type of electrical power supply. Control unit 85 can operate on a number of voltages include 120 volt. Control unit 85 may include a display 87 that identifies the heat of heater 80.

Heater 80 may each be connected to control unit 85 using a cable or cable bundle 90. If a cable bundle 90 is used, the bundle may include an electrical power cable 92 and a temperature control cable 94. Heater 80 may include an internal thermostat that provides temperature readings back to control unit 85 through their respective temperature control cable 94. Control unit 85 may then adjust the power being supplied to the heater to maintain a relatively consistent heater temperature. The operating temperature of the heater 80 may vary depending on a number of factors including the number of layers of reinforcement material 30 being heated, the size of the pipes 15, and the length of time that the wrapped joint is heated by bonding apparatus 40. Temperature probe 69 may be connected to a standalone monitor or control unit 85. Temperature probe 69 can be used to monitor the temperature at the wall of the pipes 15, beneath the reinforcement material 30, to ensure that the desired temperature is reached and maintained so that the resin in the material is properly heated. By properly heating the reinforcement material 30 and its resin, the bond between material 30 and pipes 15 can be maximized. Proper heating of the resin also ensures that resin is sufficiently molten to flow into grooves 65.

As shown in FIG. 15 , a protective material 95 may be placed around the wrapped reinforcement material 30 prior to putting it in the bonding apparatus 40 to minimize the chance of something sticking to heater 80. Protective material 95 may be a heat resistant, non-stick material such as a Teflon® wrap. Without protective material 95 in place, the heated resin from reinforcement material 30 may stick to the heater thereby reducing its effectiveness or even causing damage. Once the protective material 95 has been placed around the wrapped reinforcement material 30, the entire assembly of protective material 95, reinforcement material 30, and butt fused pipes 15 may be placed into bonding apparatus 40.

Next, method 10 includes the step 210 of heating the wrapped fused pipes 15 to bond the reinforcement material to the pipes. To do this, apparatus 40 is placed in an open position with shell 70 opened. Heater 80 is located on the middle segment 70 c of the shell and the wrapped butt fused pipe assembly is placed on the heater such that the butt fused joint is located approximately in the middle of the heater. Next, apparatus 40 is closed such that heater 80 is in full contact with the protective material 95. Segments 70 a and 70 b of the shell 70 may be fastened together with clamping mechanism 78 to secure the assembly in the apparatus 40. Heater 80 may then be heated to the desired temperature. As noted, the exact temperature depends on a number of factors, however in an exemplary embodiment the heater temperature may be 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The wrapped portion of the butt fused pipes 15 can be left in the apparatus 40 for a desired amount of time and the desired temperature. Temperature probe 69 can be monitored to ensure proper heating. It may be desirable to rotate the wrapped pipes 15 at least once during heating to minimize the chance of uneven heating which can be caused by a non-uniform heating element or faulty heater 80.

The wrapped butt fused pipe assembly is then left in the bonding apparatus 40 for a desired time to allow the resins to melt such that the layers of material 30 are bonded together, and such that the layers become bonded to the exterior of pipes 15 as discussed above. Again, the amount of time that the bonding apparatus heats the pipe assembly will depend on a number of factors. However, in an exemplary embodiment, a period of five minutes may be appropriate for heaters that are at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. That typically allows sufficient time for the pre-impregnated resin in the wrapped reinforcement material 30 to melt such that the contiguous layers of material 30 are bonded together as well as bonding the reinforcement material 30 to the exterior of pipes 15.

Method 10 also includes step 213 of allowing the fused pipe to cool. At the end of the timeframe, apparatus 40 is opened and the pipe assembly is removed and allowed to cool. The temperature probe 69 may be left in place and its cables cut at the point they disappear under the reinforcement material 30. Shortly after removing the pipe assembly, protective material 95 may be removed and saved for additional applications or discarded. Finally, the joint with bonded reinforcement material 30 may be covered with a shrink film to protect against deterioration of the joint and reinforcement material 30. As shown in FIG. 19 , various types of heat activated shrink wrap 99 may be applied using heat gun 58.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method 20 of joining a segment of non-metallic pipe, such as composite pipe 15, to a metallic pipe 25. Method 20 is similar to method 10 in that it uses reinforcement material 30 wrapped around a composite pipe 15 and heated in bonding apparatus 40, but it differs from method 10 because it does not use a butt fusion technique. Method 20 also includes the attachment of an adapter such as a swaged coupler or fitting 100 (or other type of crimp fitting) to composite pipe 15 to facilitate connection to a metallic pipe 25.

Method 20 comprises a first step 250 of wrapping reinforcement material 30 around an end of composite pipe 15, similar to the way it is wrapped around the butt fused joint as described above. More specifically, one or more sheets of reinforcement material 30 may be wrapped around an end of a composite pipe 15 that has been prepared as discussed above. The prepared end may include roughening and forming grooves 65 or other indentations as discussed above and as shown in FIGS. 9 through 11 . Grooves 65 may be formed using a groove tool 67 such as the one shown in FIG. 12 .

The reinforcement material 30 may take the form of various materials, however pre-impregnated fiberglass fibers are believed to be suitable for many applications. For example, sheets of biaxial fiberglass having fibers oriented perpendicularly to one another (e.g., at zero and ninety degrees) may be used. Such sheets are sometimes referred to as 0/90 sheets. Reinforcement material 30 may be wrapped snugly around the circumference of the end of the pipe 15. The material may overlay temperature probe 69. The number of layers of reinforcement material 30 will depend on the application, however, in an exemplary embodiment, the number of layers of reinforcement material 30 will exceed the number of intermediate layers of fiber material 54 in pipe 15. For example, if pipe 15 includes six intermediate layers of reinforcing fiber material 54, there could be eight layers of reinforcement material 30 wrapped around the end.

Reinforcement material 30 is wrapped snugly around the end of pipe 15. To facilitate this, a continuous sheet of reinforcement material 30 may be wrapped around the end of pipe 15 after an end of the material has been bonded to pipe 15. If the reinforcement material 30 is pre-impregnated fiberglass, one way to bond the starting end of the material to the pipe 15 is to use a heat gun 68 to heat the end of the material 30. The heat gun 68 can heat the pre-impregnated resin in the material 30 until it begins to melt and then the heated end of the reinforcement material 30 can then be pressed to the pipe 15 and allowed to cool. Once cooled, the previously heated resin in the reinforcement material 30 should be bonded to the exterior of pipe 15. At that point, the reinforcement material 30 can be wrapped around the pipe end to create the desired number of layers.

Next, method 20 includes the step 252 of placing the wrapped portion of pipe 15 in bonding apparatus 40 and inserting an internal spacer inside the portion of the pipe that is wrapped. The internal spacer minimizes shrinkage of the diameter of the pipe during heating to keep the pipe at its nominal size for receiving an adapter such as a swaged coupler or fitting 100 once the pipe has cooled. Like method 10, bonding apparatus 40 can be used to heat the wrapped reinforcement material 30 such that the layers of material 30 are bonded together, and the layers become bonded to the exterior of pipe 15. More specifically, the pre-impregnated resin in the wrapped reinforcement material 30 is heated until it begins to melt and the resin in the contiguous layers of material 30 melt together thus bonding the layers together. The melted resin also bonds with the exterior of pipe 15. When grooves 65 or other indentations are made in pipe 15, the melted resin may flow into the grooves 65 which also helps the reinforcement material 30 bond to the exterior of the pipe 15. As the heated resin cools, the bond becomes stronger. When the resin cools and starts to solidify in grooves 65, the cooled resin in the grooves forms a keyed joint which helps resist movement of the resin and the reinforcement material 30 with respect to pipe 15, particularly with respect to movement that is perpendicular to the groove (e.g., movement that would be longitudinal along the pipe). It is foreseen that a coating may be placed on the outside of pipe 15 under the wrapped reinforcement material 30 to assist with bonding of the material 30 to the pipe 15. It is also foreseen that reinforcement material 30 could be bonded using techniques other than heating, such as adhesive, epoxy, or chemical weld.

A protective material 95 may be placed around the wrapped reinforcement material 30 prior to putting it in the bonding apparatus 40 to minimize the chance of something sticking to heater 80. Protective material 95 may be a heat resistant, non-stick material such as a Teflon® wrap. Without protective material 95 in place, the heated resin from reinforcement material 30 may stick to the heater thereby reducing its effectiveness or even causing damage. Once the protective material 95 has been placed around the wrapped reinforcement material 30, the entire assembly of protective material 95, reinforcement material 30, and pipe 15 (with internal spacer) may be placed into bonding apparatus 40.

Next, method 20 includes the step 255 of heating the wrapped portion of pipe 15 to bond the reinforcement material 30 to the pipe 15. To do this, apparatus 40 is placed in an open position with shell 70 opened. Heater 80 is located on the middle segment 70 c of the shell and the wrapped pipe is placed on the heater such that most or all of the reinforcement material 30 will be heated. Next, apparatus 40 is closed around the assembly such that heater 80 is in full contact with the protective material 95. Segments 70 a and 70 b of the shell 70 may be fastened together with clamping mechanism 78 to secure the assembly in the apparatus 40. Heater 80 may then be heated to the desired temperature. As noted, the exact temperature depends on a number of factors, however in an exemplary embodiment the heater temperature may be 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The wrapped portion of the pipe 15 can be left in the apparatus 40 for a desired amount of time and the desired temperature. Temperature probe 69 can be monitored to ensure proper heating. It may desirable to rotate the wrapped pipe 15 at least once during heating to minimize the chance of uneven heating which can be caused by a non-uniform heating element or faulty heater 80.

The wrapped pipe assembly is left in the bonding apparatus 40 for a desired timeframe to allow the resins to melt such that the layers of material 30 are bonded together, and such that the layers become bonded to the exterior of pipe 15 as discussed above. Again, the amount of time that the bonding apparatus heats the pipe assembly will depend on a number of factors. However, in an exemplary embodiment, a period of five minutes may be appropriate for heaters that are at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. That typically allows sufficient time for the pre-impregnated resin in the wrapped reinforcement material 30 to melt such that the contiguous layers of material 30 are bonded together as well as bonding the reinforcement material 30 to the exterior of pipe 15.

Method 20 also includes step 258 of allowing the wrapped pipe to cool. At the end of the timeframe, apparatus 40 is opened and the pipe assembly is removed and allowed to cool. The temperature probe 69 may be left in place and its cables cut at the point they disappear under the reinforcement material 30. Shortly after removing the pipe assembly, protective material 95 may be removed and saved for additional applications or discarded. As the heated resin cools, the bond becomes stronger. Once the pipe has cooled, method 20 includes step 260 of removing the internal spacer from inside the pipe.

Once the wrapped pipe 15 has sufficiently cooled, the next step 264 of method 20 is to attach an adapter to the wrapped end of pipe 15 that allows connection to a metallic pipe 25. One such adapter is a swaged coupler or fitting 100 although other adaptors may also be used. As shown in FIG. 3 , swaged fitting 100 may be installed over the reinforcement material 30 that has been bonded to pipe 15. Installing fitting 100 over the reinforcement material 30 lessens the chance of pipe failure compared to installing fitting 100 on an unwrapped end of pipe 15. Fitting 100 may be configured such that, when installed on pipe 15, it does not extend along the pipe past reinforcement material 30. In other words, reinforcement material 30 should visibly extend past fitting 100 on pipe 15 once the fitting is installed.

Method 20 also includes step 266 of securing the fitting or adapter on the end of the wrapped pipe 15. Swaged fitting 100 may be installed on pipe 15 by swaging or compressing an outer sleeve 102 against the reinforcement material 30 while an insert 103 is located inside pipe 15. The insert 103 supports the wall of pipe 15 while sleeve 102 is being compressed. When outer sleeve 102 is sufficiently compressed, the wall of pipe 15 (including part of reinforcement material 30) is sandwiched between sleeve 102 and insert 103. At this point, fitting 100 is fixed to pipe 15. Fitting 100 may include a flange 105, which can then be secured to a corresponding flange 106 on the metallic pipe 25 being connected to. A final step of method 20 is to connect composite pipe 15 to metallic pipe 25 by securing flange 105 to flange 106.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A pipe joint comprising: a first pipe and a second pipe, wherein said first and second pipes are joined together at a seam, said seam comprising melted material from said first and second pipes; and at least one layer of reinforcement material wrapped around said first and second pipes such that said seam is covered by said reinforcement material.
 2. The pipe joint of claim 1, wherein said layer of reinforcement material has been heated after said wrapping around said first and second pipes.
 3. The pipe joint of claim 2, wherein said reinforcement material includes a heat activated resin.
 4. The pipe joint of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and second pipes is a composite pipe.
 5. The pipe joint of claim 4, further comprising a groove formed in at least one of said first and second pipes.
 6. The pipe joint of claim 5, further comprising a temperature probe located underneath said layer of reinforcement material.
 7. The pipe joint of claim 6, wherein said seam is generally flush with the exteriors walls of said first and second pipes.
 8. The pipe joint of claim 7, further comprising a protective film on top of said layer of reinforcement material.
 9. An apparatus for heating pipes comprising: a cylindrical shell having a plurality of segments; a heater positionable within said cylindrical shell; and a controller adapted to control heat produced by said heater.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said heater is flexible.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said heater is adapted to wrap at least partially around a pipe.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said controller is electrically connected to said heater by at least one wire.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said controller is adapted to monitor a temperature probe attached to a pipe.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said controller is electrically connected to said temperature probe by at least one wire.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of said segments of said shell is attached to another of said segments of said shell using a hinge.
 16. A method of joining pipes comprising: heating an end of a first pipe and an end of a second pipe and pressing the heated ends together thereby fusing the ends; wrapping the fused ends with a reinforcement material; placing the wrapped fused ends in a pipe heating apparatus; heating the wrapped fused ends in the pipe heating apparatus, wherein the heating causes the reinforcement material to bond to the first and second pipes; and allowing the wrapped fused ends to cool.
 17. The method of joining pipes of claim 16, wherein the reinforcement material includes a heat activated resin.
 18. The method of joining pipes of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second pipes is a composite pipe.
 19. The method of joining pipes of claim 18, further comprising forming a groove in the first or second pipes prior to wrapping the fused ends with the reinforcement material.
 20. The method of joining pipes of claim 19, further comprising applying a protective film on top of the reinforcement material. 